Acupuncture for Infantile Colic
Another low-quality acupuncture study falls victim to p-hacking and spreads unsupported claims for the efficacy of this failed treatment.
Cleveland Clinic Fully Embraces Pseudoscience
A recent and embarrassing anti-vaccine screed from the Director of the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Center produced a media backlash. Toby Cosgrove, CEO and President of the Cleveland Clinic, had the opportunity to re-dedicate his organization to good science and medical practice. Instead he doubled-down on the Cleveland Clinic's embrace of quackademic medicine and pseudoscience.
Trump Meets with RFK Jr. To Discuss “Vaccine Safety”
Trump and RFK Jr., both with anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs, met to discuss forming a presidential panel on vaccines and autism. The exact outcome is uncertain, but the possibilities are frightening.
Detox Scams are Worthless and Potentially Dangerous
A case report of a healthy woman who landed in intensive care due to her New Year's detox regimen highlights that detox treatments are a dangerous scam.
Support Science-Based Medicine
2016 has been a tough year for reason, science, medicine, and facts. Help Science-Based Medicine make 2017 a better one.
American Mortality Ticks Up
Life expectancy in the US decreased slightly in 2015. While this is a one-year phenomenon, and the long term trend continues to be one of increasing life expectancy, there are some interesting lessons in the data.
We still Need Better Communication on GMOs
A new PEW survey has been carried out regarding public attitudes toward genetically modified organisms (GMOs), organic food, and scientific consensus. While the numbers are better than I expected for science, they still indicate a large disconnect between scientific and public opinion on food matters. Scientists need to do better.
Add-on Services for IVF – The Evidence
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the only option for many couples who want to have their own genetic child. This is an expensive procedure – it can cost up to $20,000 per attempt, with about a 40% success rate overall. Couples going for IVF are often desperate to have their own child, and the uncertainty of success can be emotionally and financially...
Declining Dementia
Dementia is a significant health burden of increasing significance as our population ages. Worldwide the prevalence of dementia is 5-7% in people 60 years and older, with risk doubling every 5 years after age 60. About 5.4 million Americans are living with dementia. Dementia is a general category referring to a chronic decline in overall cognitive function. The most common cause of...
FTC Homeopathy Win
I love to see a regulatory agency actually do its job. Especially within medicine, where it is most important, the lack of political will seems to get in the way of properly regulating health care products and services in the way that most consumers assume they are regulated. Homeopathy is perhaps the best example. Homeopathy is pure unadulterated pseudoscience and witchcraft. There...